Erie shooting, stabbing case could make its way to grand jury

Woman said her son was shot in the back

By Pierrette J. Shields For Hometown Weekly

Posted:
07/26/2011 04:29:18 PM MDT

Investigators trying to determine just what happened at a Weld County home the night a Longmont man was shot to death and his cousin was stabbed are dealing with conflicting or incomplete statements given by those who were present before, during and after the attack.

Weld County Sheriff's Office Bureau Chief Randy Winsett said last week that charges in the case may ultimately be determined by a Weld County grand jury.

Kyle Dust, 31, was found shot to death at the edge of property at 5263 Buffalo Road on June 11, when Weld County sheriff's investigators went to the home to investigate reports that 34-year-old Stephen Erikson was stabbed at the home the night before.

Erikson and Dust are cousins.

Kyle Dust, 31, was found shot to death on the edge of a property at 5263 Buffalo Road just outside of Erie on June 11, 2011. The Weld County Sheriff's Office is still investigating his shooting. (Dust family, courtesy photo)

Karen Cordova, who lives at the home, told investigators that she did not know she had killed Dust, according to reports.

She was arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder and second-degree attempted murder in a case that quickly became muddled for investigators trying to piece together what happened at the home. Prosecutors reviewed the case and initially declined to press charges against Cordova.

Police believe the stabbing and shooting happened the night before Dust's body was found. No one called police to the home.

According to reports, Erikson met Cordova a few weeks before the stabbing and shooting when he had gone to her home for a consultation on some duct work and, while there, "cased" the house and a medical marijuana grow.

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Erikson and a woman burglarized the home on June 10 while Cordova was away, according to police reports. When Erikson returned with Dust later in the evening to do it again, according to reports, Cordova was home. Cordova told police she confronted Erikson and stabbed him once above his navel.

Erikson fled to a friend's home for help and was eventually hospitalized at Exempla Good Samaritan. Investigators, meanwhile, went to Cordova's home with information that there was likely a body there. With Cordova's permission, police searched the property and found Dust.

The Weld County Sheriff's Office initially reported that he, too, had been stabbed, but the Weld County Coroner later determined he had been shot.

The Weld County District Attorney's Office has barred the public release of Dust's final autopsy report, and Winsett declined to say where Dust was shot.

Debbie Dust, Kyle Dust's mother, said investigators told her that her son was shot in the back, which may indicate he was fleeing.

"That is what we were told. And that he was on the edge of the property," she said.

She added, though, that the family has yet to receive a death certificate. She said her family is frustrated with the pace of the investigation and the fact that they still seem to know so little.

Debbie Dust said her son was murdered and she wants to see charges filed and the case prosecuted.

Winsett said investigators are working to confirm information offered by Erikson and those who were aware of their movements before and after the stabbing and shooting. He confirmed that a search warrant turned up weapons at Cordova's home.

"I can't especially say they were the weapons (involved)," he said. "They have been sent in for testing."

He said that there is some issue whether the men were in Cordova's home with or without her permission. Winsett said Cordova and Erikson have spoken with investigators, but it seems some people who have been interviewed are withholding information for fear of getting in trouble or getting someone else in trouble.

Debbie Dust said her family is left to wait for word.

"We hope the charges are filed. That's about all we can do. There is nothing we can do. We don't know anything about it," she said.